Identifying Two Antique Dolls House Treasures!

It never ceases to amaze me the kindness shown by old dolls house collectors, who take the time to pass on helpful information to me. Although I am just coming to the end of my 22nd year of trading as KT Miniatures, and about to embark on my 23rd year (OMG this makes me sound so old), am still constantly learning about these lovely miniature items, even now. 

I do feel strongly that it is important to share this information, in order to help future generations in identifying these lovely items when we are all long gone. With so much misinformation out there on the internet, that at times it can be very difficult to ascertain what is accurate and what is not. However I am just as guilty as anyone else because occasionally I have got identification wrong...it is easily done, although information has always been given in good faith. So when people take the time to contact me with absolute proof of identification, it is always a great joy!

Remember this fascinating c1800s/early 1900s art nouveau mirror & statuette (CLICK HERE TO SEE OLD POST ABOUT THIS), which was put up for sale back in June of this year? I had never seen anything quite like it before and had asked if anyone could help identify it. 

The only identifying mark on the statuette was under the base...it simply said GERMANY. 

At the time, a lovely lady from New Zealand emailed to say that the statuette was modeled on a famous dancer called Loie Fuller, who had had many statuettes based on her during the Art Nouveau period. But sadly no-one could help me identify the maker of this gorgeous mirror statuette...until now!

I can now with confidence state that this Art Nouveau metal statuette was made by F.W.Gerlach, a German company based in Naumburg,  in the early part of the 1900s. It was listed as Reference No. 1568 in the 1924 F.W.Gerlach catalogue, as seen in the scanned image from the catalogue above. Huge thanks to the kind lady from Hampshire who sent me this information. In fact, out of the blue this lady has sent me a photocopy of the whole catalogue...how wonderful is that! I have had great fun looking through it all and very shortly I will be able to show identification proof of other miniature treasures that were simply marked GERMANY. 

And then just the other day, after I had finished listing one or two old miniature items to KT Miniatures website, I randomly received an email from a lady up north, who kindly informed me that a bookcase/bureau that I had just listed as unknown, was in fact made in the early 1930s by the German company Bassett-Lowke under their Nuways label! And here it is...

I had been mystified by this item. At times, when I have no idea of maker or age, I can only go on what is in front of me and trust my gut instinct. And with this being in such good condition and hardly played with, I'd reached the conclusion that it was more vintage than antique. It was the wooden handles too that had thrown me, as they are quite similar to those reproduction wooden handles that became available in more recent times?  How wrong was I:) !!!

This very same item is listed as No.8500/3 in the 1931 Nuways catalogue as a MODEL BUREAU BOOKCASE. In the details it is described as "A most attractive piece of model furniture made in solid oak and finished to match table and chairs, having two bottom cupboards to open and a hinged writing flap. The three shelves are fitted with removable imitation books in effective colourings." And this was priced as 4/- . For you young 'uns out there who don't know what this signifies....it means four shillings in old  British currency,  which I am quite sure made this quite an expensive purchase back in those days. 

It really is beautifully made and stands at a height of 5 3/4", with two opening doors and a hinged writing flap. 

The mock wooden books have been exquisitely created. 

For those of you who would like to know more, then do go take a peek at the wonderful Brighton Toy Museum's website, and in particular the following page: Nuways (Bassett-Lowke) Dolls House Furniture Page

Apparently, "Nuways" was a branded range of dolls house furniture by Bassett-Lowke, and their range of items appeared in a 1931 and 1932 catalogue. It is unknown whether any further Nuway catalogues appeared after that date, so it seems that Bassett Lowke's  venture into the dolls house world was possibly rather brief. 

UPDATE: Margaret Hobbs of Essex emailed to say that she has two boxed Bassett-Lowke pieces of furniture and kindly sent me some photos. She has given me permission to show you them on this KT Miniatures Journal, as she is also for sharing information. So a huge thank you to Margaret!

 Above you can see Margaret's Nuway sideboard and box. 

But the label is illegible. 

 Above is Margaret's Nuway sofa and box. 

But again, as on the other box label, the writing has been long worn off. 

Margaret said that she had bought these two items a long time ago from a dealer who had been in the business a long time, and who had told her that these had been made by Bassett-Lowke. But the writing on the labels had worn off. So she was interested to see my bureau bookcase, as her handles on her sideboard were the same. She can now, after checking on the Nuways catalogue images from the above Brighton Museum link, confirm identification of her pieces. 

Meanwhile this bureau bookcase is now reserved, but can currently still be seen on the following KT Miniatures page: 

Living & Dining Room Page.